Is there any interest in building or using shave horses?

I have made two over the past few years. I used them both quite a bit. Especially for spindles or irregular shapes. But I have since sold them both and I do all the same operations at the bench with a face (leg) vise. I have been toying with building a new one recently though. I like the Lie Nielsen shavehorse but for almost a thousand bucks, I think I could make one almost identical myself.

Are you considering making one (or buying one)? I can tell you that they are fun to use and easy to make.

YES! Mike, I do not own or use a shave horse now, but I reeeeeallly want to build and own one! I have seen many shave horse plans and images and I like most. I am going to build a Russ Filbeck Ladder Back Chairwhich requires a shavehorse. Russ built a beautiful shave horse as well pictured below. When my family and I visited his shop a few months ago I fell in love with his.

Russ Filbeck on his Shave Horse, click on the photo to be taken to our Photo Album "A Day With Russ".

Russ explaining his book to my son and my wife, our two girls were standing behind me sitting in his ladder back chairs. Russ's shave horse in the back ground. I had some wonderful detailed pics of his horse, but I cannot seem to locate them right now.

But yes, Mike, if you have any ideas to share to the crew here on building a shave horse, fire away!

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John Morris
The Patriot Woodworker

I made this one for a friend-

All just Borg 2x materials except for the dowels. They were turned oak

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Lew Kauffman-
Wood Turners Forum Host

Time Traveler and Purveyor of the Universe's Finest Custom Rolling Pins!

Nice Lew!

Lewis Kauffman said:

I made this one for a friend-

All just Borg 2x materials except for the dowels. They were turned oak

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Lew Kauffman-
Wood Turners Forum Host

Time Traveler and Purveyor of the Universe's Finest Custom Rolling Pins!

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John Morris
The Patriot Woodworker

Thanks, John. The "head" and "lever mechanism" can be quickly disassembled for easier transportation. 

John Morris said:

Nice Lew!

Lewis Kauffman said:

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John Morris
The Patriot Woodworker

That's a great plus factor. After all shavehorses had to be mobile back in the day right?

Lewis Kauffman said:

Thanks, John. The "head" and "lever mechanism" can be quickly disassembled for easier transportation. 

John Morris said:

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John Morris
The Patriot Woodworker

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Lew Kauffman-
Wood Turners Forum Host

Time Traveler and Purveyor of the Universe's Finest Custom Rolling Pins!

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John Morris
The Patriot Woodworker

I have built three or four and use mine quite a bit. I demonstrate at historic farm days and teach spoon carving and need to have a very light, sturdy, inexpensive and easily transportable shave horse.

Mine cost about $20 and takes an afternoon to build. It comes apart so I can throw it in the trunk of my Subaru and sets up in a couple minutes. I'm always looking for ideas and improvements. I planned to build a modular horse that would have different heads for different purposes. Like one for leatherwork, carving bowls, small detail carving and able to accept other heads as I think of uses for them. I started that one, but a friend needed a shave horse so I sold him mine and went back to the old one.

Mike,

The one I built can be broken down- except for the legs. Also, with some modifications I believe it be made to have interchangeable heads- or at least different jaws.

Mike Davis said:

I have built three or four and use mine quite a bit. I demonstrate at historic farm days and teach spoon carving and need to have a very light, sturdy, inexpensive and easily transportable shave horse.

Mine cost about $20 and takes an afternoon to build. It comes apart so I can throw it in the trunk of my Subaru and sets up in a couple minutes. I'm always looking for ideas and improvements. I planned to build a modular horse that would have different heads for different purposes. Like one for leatherwork, carving bowls, small detail carving and able to accept other heads as I think of uses for them. I started that one, but a friend needed a shave horse so I sold him mine and went back to the old one.

I made my legs with a tapered tenon and the holes to match, that makes it easy to install and remove the legs.

I don't have one, but a blacksmith friend of mine wants me to  build him one and says he has plans for it.  Does that help.  I haven't picked up the plans yet but I could?  There have been a number of times in the last few months that I sure could have used one!